When historians come to look back on this golden age in Manchester City’s history what role will they assign to Raheem Sterling – just one of the superstar squad or will this will be know as the Sterling era rather than the Guardiola one?
When a young Raheem signed for Manchester City back on July 14 2015 no one quite knew what to expect. He was an exciting prospect who had made it clear he wanted to move on from Liverpool and done his best to engineer a move. Endearing himself to the city faithfull upon arrival he made clear he had made the move to win trophies.
A fee of £44 million was agreed, with a further £5 million in bonuses if certain conditions were met. Liverpool backed media confidently rubbished Raheem and famously even proclaimed that Jordan Ibe was a better player. Ex Liverpool players questioned his loyalty and attitude. The media carried stories about his “bling” and quickly he rose to the position of public enemy.
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Revelling in this media storm, Liverpool ex players began to trot out even more stories and the atmosphere around Raheem everytime he played football became a baying toxic racist storm. Tackles were encouraged and every time he touched the ball he was booed.Of course to any sane individual all of this was far beyond the truth, but nevertheless we were concerned about the pressure being placed upon a young man in this negative and hostile environment, where the media almost condoned him being assaulted on his way to work.
Fast forward to now and Raheem sits as the most valuable Uk athlete, viewed internationally as spear heading a fightback against ignorance. Throughout he has oozed class as well as enthusiasm on the pitch. He has simply been himself, a young man trying his best to achieve his dreams.
There is an amusing collective amnesia occuring in the media where no one refers to the way in which they created a toxic climate to flourish. Instead they are adjusting the narrative to one where it appears Raheem has won over the public through his football.
It is incredible to think that this young player – he is still only 24 – has played some 40 Club games so far this season during which he has scored 19 goals and assisted a further 16. And that whilst playing for England this week and winning a penalty and scoring a hat trick, he did not think anything about the change from boos to cheers and instead focussed on paying tribute to a young footballer who had tragically died from cancer.
Right now, all those ex Liverpool players, journalists in the media who have written stories about his mum and her kitchen or his visits to a pound shop, fans who have booed his every touch should quite simply be feeling even more ashamed than they should have felt already. Quite simply, Raheem Sterling is top of the league.